Chapter 15

Saraid and I found a quiet spot by a small stream. Once we were both settled down, sitting on a couple of large rocks, I asked her, “I’m wondering what kind of reception we will receive when we reach the elves’ village?”

Saraid looked pensive for a moment, and then replied, “They will be very happy about the children being safe.”

She paused a moment, and then continued, “I’m not so sure they will welcome me back.”

I thought for a moment. I needed to know more about the circumstances of her being banished.

“Saraid, I know this may be painful for you, but I need to understand more of why you and your father were asked to leave the elves’ village.”

She looked at me with large, sad eyes, but also with a sense of presence that showed her strength and determination.

“Donta, my father was accused of stealing a very important relic of our past. It is called the Sormic and is a history of our people. It was left to us by the Ancient Ones.”

Before I could ask, she continued, “He didn’t take it. Of that I am sure.”

“How was he accused?”

She answered, “Abandar accused him of stealing the Sormic while in Council.”

“And that was enough that they banished him?”

“No,” she answered, “they searched our house and found the Sormic hidden in one of my father’s trunks.”

Something sounded strange in her story, so I probed deeper, “And this Abandar, he is a trustworthy person?”

“He is the elder who was entrusted with keeping the Sormic. It is a high honor, not lightly given by the Council.”

I continued, “And he and your father, they were friends?”

“No, they despised one another. My father believed that the Sormic was only one of several books left by the Ancient Ones. Adandar believed that the Sormic was the one true book and should be the sole basis for our conduct.”

Now that I understood more, it only raised more concerns.

“Saraid,” I asked, “what will happen when the elders see that you are with us?”

She dropped her head and then spoke.

“I don’t know. When my father was banished, I chose to go with him. They told me if I did so, then I would be subject to death if found anywhere near the village.”

I nodded and then said, “Well, I doubt that Gait, or for that matter any of us, will allow that.”

I then asked, “How much further is the elf village?”

She stood up and then answered, “We should reach it tomorrow afternoon.”

I nodded my head and stood before I answered, “OK, then, let’s get back to the others. We will just have to see what happens tomorrow.”

When we returned, our meal was ready. With so many to feed, it took most of our stores to prepare the meal. I only hoped the elves would replace what we had used.

Gait and Torg took turns keeping guard. There were no surprises from orcs.

We were up early, with a quick breakfast of what was left from the previous evening’s meal. It was not long before we were back on the trail. As we left the camp, the sun was just beginning to creep over the top of the trees to the east. Gait and Dan’ar took up a rear guard position behind the troop, in case the orcs had continued their pursuit.